Brassiere



May 10, 1949. A. ALTv 2,469,623

BRASSIERE Filed March 24, 1945 INVENTOR.

A T Toffs/Ey Patented May 10, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,469,623eRAssIRE Anne Alt, Compton, Calif.

Application March 24, 1945, Serial N0. 584,601

(Cl. 24e-42) Claims.

This invention relates to brassires and has for an object the provisionvof a brassire wherein both breast pockets may be cut from a singlepattern and easily fashioned into breast supporting form.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a brassire which willeifectively hold the breasts in position with a minimum of fabric used.

Whereas at the present time it is customary inthe manufacture ofbrassires toprovide such fabric members as a body encircling band, whichis normally tightly positioned below the breasts, and pocket portionsstitched or otherwise secured thereto, the present invention by itsconstruction provides support without the necessity of utilizing aseparate body encircling band.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a brassireincorporating a novel breast pocket construction which while firmlyholding the breast or breasts likewise is capable of expansion toaccommodate any fullness of the breast.

Another object is the provision in a brassire of a breast pocketconstruction formed from a single fabric member and so fashioned as toallow maximum firm support beneath the breast while permitting ease inbreast support.

Another object is the provision of 'a brassire construction soconstructed that the shoulder straps do not cut or otherwise abrade theshoulders.

Another object is the provision of a brassire which readily accommodatesand holds firmly different sized breasts, in that the breast pocket ispermitted limited expansion at a certain zone thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a brassire thebreast pockets of which are so formed as to have maximum strength at thezone of support, and wherein the breast pocket fabric is capable ofstretching transversely at a Zone above the medial line of said pocket,

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the brassire;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View 0f the brassire looking inwardly of thebreast pockets;

Fig. 3 is a pattern form for a breast pocket; and,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the pattern form of Fig. 3 showing howportions -of the fabric may be overlapped prior to sewing.

Referring now to the drawings:

The brassire includes two sections I and 2 which are united by seemingalong the center line at 3. Each section includes a breast pocket Il anda back portion 5 seamed thereto, as indicated at 6. The back portionsare adapted to be adjustably connected together by 'means of snaps orhooks and eyes, as indicated at I and B.

The breast pocket construction is such as to permit ready manufacture,and each pocket is formed from a pattern of the general characterdepicted in plan in Fig. 3, As shown in Fig. 3 the fabric for thebreastpocket may be substantially irregular in outline, although it maybe circular. The irregularity in outline in the present instance dependson the appearance of the breast pocket when finished. Assuming theoutline for the pocket `to be that shown in Fig. 3, I divide the patterninto four zones, il, I, Il and I2, the zones being separated by thedotted lines vi3 and I4. The dottedline I4 substantially divides thepattern vertically. while the dotted line I3 divides the patterntransversely and at right angles to the vertical line III. To form thepocket so that it will be breast conforming in shape or substantiallypyramidal, the pattern is cut along line I4 to 'a point slightly belowline I3, as indicated at I5, thus providing an edge I6 for zone I0 andan edge I1 for zone Il. Zones I0 and II thus become flaps I0 and II.Flap I0 is then overlapped on flap II, as kindicated by way of examplein Fig. 4. The overlap is such, however, that edge 'I6 lies below thetransverse line I3. When `this. overlap is accomplished, edges It, I9and 20 of fiap I I will be in juxtaposition to edges 2l, 22 and 23 ofnap III. It is intended in the cutting of the fabric to so form thepocket that the warp and the weft threads of the fabric should paralleldotted lines I4 and I3 respectively, so that transverse stretch in zones9 and I2 should be at a minimum, while naps I and I I, by beingoverlapped, will have the threads in bias relationship to the end thattransverse stretch is permitted. It has been found advantageous in theforming of the pockets to provide an inwardly extending dart at 24 and25. The resulting breast pocket formed as/aforesaid is substantiallystraight along the base portion thereof, as indicated for sections I and2 at 265 and 2l, while the portion of the breast pocket which receivesthe shoulder straps may have angularly related edges, as indicated forone of said breast pockets at 28 and 29. The zone of juncture betweenedges 28 and 29 receives a short length strap 30, which may carry abuckle 3l adapted to adjustably receive the shoulder strap member 32,which strap member has one end secured to the back portion of thebrassire.

Edges I B and I I in the finished breast pocket are left unsewed to thebreast pocket fabric in order that there may be no interference with thebias stretch. The brassire may be given an edge finish as illustrated inthe drawing to enhance its appearance.

The operation, uses and advantages of the invention are as follows:

When the brassire is positioned around the body the edge portions 26 and21 closely engage the body beneath the breasts, and when the backportions are connected by the means 'i and the brassire will tightly butcomfortably engage the body. As the weft and warp threads of a breastpocket are in right angular relationship for the lower portion of thebreast pocket, Ilittle stretch occurs at this zone, and hence the usualauxiliary body band is unnecessary. As the upper portion of each breastpocket has its fabric on a bias line, transverse stretch to accommodateany fullness of the breasts results. The shoulder straps complete theremaining support, and strength of structure results at the Zone ofconnection of the straps with the breast pockets due to the fact thatthe fabric is of double thickness at this zone. In other words, thepresent construction is such as to allow the greatest strength at thezone of greatest tension and support.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the fact that thepresent brassire is cool to wear. The overlappedportions, by not beingseamed along edges 145V and l1, allow a certain amount of circulation atthis zone, and by having a single thickness of fabric below theoverlapped portions, a comparatively light fabric may be utilized,permitting passage of air therethrough.

I claim: K

l. In a brassire, a pair of pocket portions formed of fabric, the lowerhalf of each pocket portion having its warp and weft threads runningtransversely of and vertically relative to the lower edge of said pocketportion, and the top half of said pocket portion divided into equalhalves with the halves superimposed so that they completely overlap toplace the fabric on a bias, and thereby permit stretch in this portionof the pocket.

2. A method of forming a fabric breast pocket for a brassire whichconsists in providing a fabric piece of irregular outline, slitting thefabric parallel to a thread line to substantially the transverse centerof said pocket, to thereby provide two flaps, and thereafter completelyoverlapping said aps substantially degrees to place the fabric thereofon a bias and whereby the fabric is fashioned into breast receivingcontour.

3. A method of forming a fabric breast pocket for a brassire whichconsists in providing a fabric piece of irregular outline, slitting thefabric parallel to a thread line to substantially the transverse centerof said pocket, to thereby provide two flaps, and thereafter completelyoverlapping said naps substantially 90 degrees to place the fabricthereof on a bias and whereby the fabric is fashioned into breastreceiving contour; followed by sewing the overlapped edges of said flapstogether, the edge of the fabric adjacent the slit being unsecured.

4. In a brassire, a pair of joined sections, each section including abreast pocket and a back member, together with means for detachablysecuring the back members together; each breast pocket divided intoupper and lower halves, the upper half divided into equal halves toprovide a pair of iiaps in completely overlapped relationship ofsubstantially 90 degrees to give a bias effect and to permit stretch ofthis portion of the pocket, the lower portion of said pocket beingsubstantially non-stretchable.

5. In a brassire, a pair of joined sections, each section including abreast pocket and a back member, together with means for detachablysecuring the back members together; each breast pocket divided intoupper and lower halves, the upper half divided into equalhalves toprovide a pair of flaps in completely overlapped relationship ofsubstantially 90 degrees to give a bias effect and to permit stretch ofthis portion of the pocket, the lower portion of said pocket beingsubstantially non-stretchable, said overlapped edges of the iiaps beingsecured together, and one edge of each flap being unsecured.

ANNE ALT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,731,033 Whippy Oct. 8, 19291,936,532 Weil Nov. 21, 1933 1,971,113 Maier Aug. 21, 1934 2,091,753Doctors Aug. 31, 1937

